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Wednesday, June 7, 2017

Taking A Closer Look at DC’s Defunct Minx Line

I’m always interested in new ways to get comics in the hands
of readers. And when I read about DC’s defunct Minx imprint, it seemed like a
great way to do it. Original Graphic novels in a manga-sized format would
provide readers with comics that featured easy entry points and introduced them
to new characters and new worlds.

Unfortunately, what prevented the Minx line from being a
success was the inability of DC and Random House execute on the concept.

The editors at DC think that the Minx line failed due to Random
House’s distribution of the titles. According to them Random House just put
books in the YA section instead of the Manga section of bookstores and that’s’
why the Minx titles didn’t sell. No, what prevented them from selling was a
paternalistic view towards girls and absolutely terrible writing.

I find it sad that every time a comic publisher thinks they
have to appeal to girls they always think they have to dumb things down. And
DC’s Minx line was no different than the asinine comics I read in my 1970s
Superhero Women paperback like Claws of the Cat. There was no likeable heroine
to root for in Minx books. There was no story to make us CARE in Minx books or
anything FUN about them. It just looked like Minx’s editors just thought they’d
create comic books around what they thought girls would like and they’d just
buy it because they’re just comics for girls.

No. Just NO.

It always annoys me that whenever there are comic lines
meant to target female readers that there’s no care taken as it relates to the
writing. When it comes to stories featuring heroines in comics, there’s no character
transformation arc for the heroines to go through, no conflicts, hardships, or
struggles for them to face. Most of the stories just feature them showing up
stuff happening, and…the end.

I’m sorry but that’s not a story. In a story the reader needs
a reason to keep them reading. And when it came to the Minx line, I didn’t see
anything to compel me to keep reading the first Minx book I bought, Clubbing.
Someone should have told the people at Minx, Everyone’s comic is their first.
So you need to make the best impression with the first issue. Because when it
comes to comics, if the first issue is bad, the reader isn’t coming back for
the second issue.

So I could see why a lot of readers dropped the Minx line
after the initial launch. Because the writing was THAT BAD.

Moreover as I read the Minx mission, I could see the flaws
in their business plan. While they planned to launch their line to compete with
Japanese Manga it’s clear to me that DC’s editors just didn’t understand how
Manga worked. Manga in Japan is made for both boys and girls and it’s made for
readers of all ages. So the plan to just target girls literally cut their
audience down by 2/3 before the first title was published.

Worse, seasoned Manga readers could tell when they were
being pandered to. Many of the seasoned Manga readers could take one look at
the titles of DC’s Minx line and felt they just didn’t meet their “smell” test.
So they had no incentive to buy into the line.

Looking at the model for the Minx titles, I still think it’s
a good model for publishing comics. But a smart publisher would have to
understand the story model for writing a graphic novel them before they launched
a single title. Readers aren’t going to buy a comic featuring reject YA
stories, jumbled plots and poorly developed characters just because they’re
told it’s for a specific audience. No, good Manga like One Piece and Naruto is
popular with all ages and genders because there is care taken to craft well
developed characters, tight plots, and compelling storylines. The big problem
with the Minx line wasn’t the format of the comics or the distribution; it was
the fact that editorial just didn’t have a vision for the brand or any idea how
to create content that would sell with Manga fans or casual customers. Minx
books were flashy on the outside, but had no substance in between their pages.

I believe Manga-sized graphic novels that told a story in
one single volume could sell very well with readers. And I’ve pondered using
that platform when I turn the Isis series into graphic novels. I know that
there could be a big audience for Manga-sized comics in America, but all it takes
for a publisher to understand how to execute stories in the format. A comic
sells its next issue with the first one in a reader’s hands so the story has to
leave a great impression on readers from the first issue in their hands. If the
editors of the Minx line had understood that tenet, the line would probably
still be publishing today.

ISIS: SAMURAI GODDESS

SPELLBOUND

Isis: Bride of Dracula

Spinsterella

Isis: Night of the Vampires

E'steem: Undercover

About Me

Hi, I'm Shawn James and I'm a man with a lot on my mind. This blog is a place where I'll write essays, promote my self-published, books and display my art.
All materials on this blog Copyright (c) Shawn James